FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Battery Care and Charging:
We get so many questions about charging your battery and if you have to take it off your e-bike when not in use.
You can leave your battery on your e-bike. If you are in extreme temps north of 85 or below 40 you are doing your bike a favor by storing your battery in a place that is temperature controlled. Don’t worry about it during your ride time, it’s a concern when it’s prolonged exposure outside of your ride.
In regards to charging, you don’t have to charge it after every ride unless you drained the battery or have a big ride planned the next day. E-bike batteries are lithium-ion and have several hours of run time.
Pro Tip: Unplug your battery from the charger when it’s fully charged.
Flat Repair and Prevention:
Flat tires are the number one service we see on e-bikes. It can be intimidating to change a tube on any bike, but for some especially on their e-bike.
At Rolling H Cycles we have a variety of options to offer you. Tannus Armour is hands down our most popular solution. Here in Idaho we have puncture vines a.k.a. as goatheads. Tannus Armour is a foam insert that prevents tubes from getting punctured by those pesky little thorns.
Call our team to discuss or inquire about flat prevention options at (208) 466-7655.
Keys (a.k.a. your battery lock):
The keys are essentially a lock for your battery, it’s not to start your bike. Keep a spare key in a secure place you can remember. If you have a Bosch motor our Bosch certified service department can plug it in and get access to your key number to order replacement keys. On other brands save your key number, you can contact the manufacturer to get spares.
General Maintenance:
Your e-bike is going to need maintenance just like your traditional bike.
Chain wear – You will wear out your chain and potentially cassette faster because now there is additional power going to them. Don’t forget to lube your chain regularly.
Brakes – Make sure your bike stops on demand. Your e-bike is a bit heavier so you should check on your stopping power frequently.
Tires – The rear tire will wear out faster than the front. The driving force of the e-bike motor is closer to the rear of the bike. More torque equals more wear.
Transportation of your e-bike:
Aside from riding your bike from home there will be times you want to take your bike to a location like camping or the greenbelt for riding.
With an external battery it is recommended to remove before transporting. Make sure your car rack is rated for the bike’s weight. Safely secure on your car rack. If lifting the bike on the rack is challenging, there are ramps for hitch racks. Don’t forget to lock your bikes when away from the rack.
BENEFITS OF E-BIKES:
Savings:
Fuel prices are increasing and riding an e-bike could be a solution to creating some monthly savings. With e-bikes starting at $1949 how many rides would it take to get a return on your investment?
For our shop owner, Adam Haynes, he has been riding his Brisa Cargo E-bike and has easily saved over $400 a month on fuel by parking his truck and riding his bike. You might see him and his kids cruising around town on it.
See what he has gained in the next section.
Health:
Even on an e-bike, you can get your heart rate up. And even if you didn’t we can’t argue that riding a bike is better for your health than driving your car. And riding bikes is fun, so that’s good for your mental health.
Joy:
You can’t help but have fun when riding a bike. Riding an e-bike just amplifies the fun. We have never seen a person test ride one and not come back with a smile on their face! A bike commute home is more fun than sitting in traffic in the car.
SAFETY
Helmet
Everyone should wear a helmet. Trivia – did you know that your helmet needs replaced every 3-5 years or after every crash? Our team is knowledgeable in helping your select a new helmet for your safety and we have several brands and colors in stock.
Lights
When riding on the road you should have lights. Especially important to have rear flashing lights. At minimum one, but two increases your visibility. If you are commuting by bike, don’t rely only reflectors. Increase your visibility.
Pace
Commuting by e-bike is obviously a benefit because you can travel faster than a traditional bike, but it can help with your commute in other ways.
1. When starting from a stop you can accelerate faster.
2. Alternate routes. Because you are traveling faster you can take routes that have a little less car traffic.
3. Discover new areas in your familiar town. Don’t be fixed on only seeing the same route every day.